CLEP Helps Non-Traditional Students

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) provides a valuable opportunity to non-traditional students pursuing a college degree. These students, mainly people who didn’t continue on to college after high school and are working full-time, can earn college credits when they pass a CLEP exam. They may do so at modest cost by paying an exam fee of $97. In contrast, tuition costs for a three-credit college course range from over $400 at a typical community college to over $7,000 at an elite college.

CLEP exams cover introductory-level college course material. With a passing score on one exam, a student can earn three or more college credits at 2,900 U.S. colleges. Although it’s difficult to prepare for an exam while working full-time, millions of people have done so.

CLEP gives individuals the opportunity to demonstrate college-level knowledge gained through prior course work, independent study, or professional experience. Exam-takers often receive credits for an introductory course, exemption from a required course, or advanced placement in the curriculum of a college’s degree program.

Administered by the College Board for over 50 years, the CLEP program offers 34 subject-matter exams. Exams are conducted throughout the year at more than 2,000 high schools, colleges, and government facilities in the United States and abroad.

CLEP exam scores range from 20 to 80 points, with 50 being the minimum passing score suggested by the American Council on Education. However, each college that participates in the CLEP program may set its own minimum passing score.

Benefits of the CLEP Program

According to the College Board, students who take the exams benefit in the following ways:

1. 1. Students perform as well or better in subsequent college courses than their peers who took the introductory course at the same college.

1. 2. CLEP students have higher average GPA’s in college than other students.

1. 3. Students who score 50 or higher on exams have a higher rate of successful transfer from two-year to four-year colleges.

1. 4. First-generation college students and those in underrepresented groups who earn a score of 50 or higher on exams have significantly higher retention and graduation rates than other students.

1. 5. CLEP exams scores are accepted at far more colleges than any other credit-by-examination program.

1. 6. CLEP exams may be taken at home and administered through a remote proctoring arrangement.

As noted above, CLEP students are more likely to graduate than non-CLEP students. Passing CLEP exams correlates to a 5.5% increase in the rate of graduation. This outcome is notably strong for groups who traditionally struggle to graduate, such as the following:

1. 1. Students at two-year colleges,

1. 2. Students in the military,

1. 3. Students age 25 or older,

1. 4. First-generation college students, and

1. 5. Students in minority groups.

The CLEP Policies of Colleges

Individuals wishing to know how CLEP can help them at a targeted college can research its policies. We recommend that students follow the steps below:

1. 1. See if the college accepts CLEP scores for credit. Verify that it grants credit for the particular CLEP exams that the student is considering taking. The amount of credit hours granted for an accepted exam varies. For example, Arizona State University grants 3 credits for a passing score on the American Literature exam and 7 credits for a passing score on the Calculus exam.
   2. Determine if the exam will count toward the student’s planned degree program. Does the exam fulfill a requirement in the degree program? At many colleges, a satisfactory CLEP score will allow a student to skip a course that would otherwise be required as a general degree requirement or as an introductory course.
   3. Check to see if the college’s policy has any restrictions that might preclude the student’s participation in its CLEP program.

The credit-granting policies of a college for a specific CLEP exam may be found on the CLEP College Credit Policy Search page on the College Board/CLEP website, but the process above is recommended so the student can learn about a college’s CLEP program.

Preparing for a CLEP Exam

Prospective exam-takers should become familiar with the descriptions of each exam on the College Board/CLEP website. They should complete the sample questions on the “At a Glance” worksheets for each exam they plan to take.

CLEP exams take from 90 to 120 minutes to complete, depending on the subject. There are study materials available from the College Board to help students prepare for exams. These include the Official Study Guide for $35 that covers all 34 exams or individual exam guides for $10 each.

Modern States Alliance is a nonprofit education alliance dedicated to college access for all.  The Alliance offers 30 free freshman college courses that are aligned with CLEP exams. They  are taught online by experienced college professors. In addition, third-party prep courses, available from providers such as Peterson’s, start at $49 per month.

The College Board has an online video to help exam-takers become familiar with the testing platform, testing tools, types of questions, and allowable scientific calculators. Exam-takers should practice with an allowed calculator if they plan to take the Chemistry, College Algebra, College Mathematics, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus exams. The video also contains information about how CLEP scores are calculated.

The American Literature, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, College Composition Modular, and English Literature exams may have optional essays that are required by a college that the test-taker has designated to receive the exam scores.

Taking a CLEP Exam at a Test Center

CLEP exam registration and the payment of $97 can be effected on the College Board/CLEP website. Some test centers or remote-proctored exams may charge a small additional fee above the exam cost. After exam-takers register, they have six months to contact one of the CLEP testing centers to schedule the exam or arrange for a remote-proctored exam.

When an exam has been completed, exam-takers immediately receive their score at the test center except for those exams that require an essay. Two colleges designated by the exam-taker at registration will receive scores within 10 to 14 business days. Additional score reports can be sent to other colleges by ordering them on the CLEP website for $20 each. Exam-takers can also request a transcript of all of their CLEP exam scores for $20.

Exam-takers should do the following on the day of the exam:

• Bring their registration ticket,
• Bring two No. 2 pencils with erasers (no other kinds are allowed),
• Bring a valid government-issued photo ID that includes a signature, and
• Do not bring an electronic device except an allowable calculator into the test center.

Students may retake a CLEP exam at their option but they cannot repeat the same exam within three months of the first exam date.

Taking a CLEP Exam at Home

CLEP offers all exam-takers the option of taking CLEP exams at home with remote human proctoring. Exams with remote proctoring have the same timing, content, format, and on-screen experience as an exam at a CLEP testing center.

Remote proctoring is provided by an identity verification and remote proctoring system. Students register for a remote-proctor exam through the My Account Registration Portal on the College Board/CLEP website. One rescheduled exam is allowed at no additional charge, but there is a charge of $10 for additional rescheduled appointments. Students need to download and install the ETS Online Test Application. This will be used for the exam so that the proctor can log the student into the test launcher to start the exam.

To take a CLEP exam with remote proctoring, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Be 13 years old or older,
• Be located in the U.S. (excluding territories) or be funded by Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support,
• The computer and testing room must meet equipment, environmental, and technical requirements.

To participate in remote proctoring, an exam-taker must have the following:

• A computer (PC’s running Windows 10 or 11; no Macs or tablets)
• A webcam,
• A speaker,
• A microphone,
• A white board or one sheet of paper in a transparent sheet protector,
• A dry-erase marker for note taking, and
• A quiet, secure testing environment.

Exam-takers who have learning or physical disabilities that would prevent them from taking a remote-proctored CLEP exam under standard conditions may request accommodations through the College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities. The following accommodations are available for remote-proctored CLEP exams:

• Screen magnification,
• Modifiable screen colors,
• Extended time,
• Untimed rest breaks (within view of the proctor), and
• Accommodations that don’t impact the CLEP testing platform and allow the exam-taker to stay within view of the proctor, such as permission for food, drinks, medication, or blood sugar testing.

CLEP Military Benefits

To help military service members as well as eligible spouses and civil service employees reach their educational goals, the U.S. Government fully funds CLEP exams so members can work toward a college degree. The DANTE program is the means by which these educational services are provided.

Benefits are available to:

• Military personnel: Available to members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air Force National Guard, plus MyCAA Eligible Military Spouses.
• Spouses of: Coast Guard active-duty and reserves.
• Civilian employees of: Air Force.
• Veterans: Veterans are eligible for CLEP benefits under the Forever G.I. Bill.

CLEP Exam Topics

 There are five main subject groups, as listed below:

1. Composition and Literature,
2. World Languages,
3. History and Social Sciences,
4. Science and Mathematics, and
5. Business

The individual subject-matter exams within each group are as follows:

1. Composition and Literature

• American Literature
• Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
• College Composition
• College Composition Modular
• English Literature
• Humanities

2. World Languages

• French Language: Levels 1 and 2
• German Language: Levels 1 and 2
• Spanish Language: Levels 1 and 2

3. History and Social Sciences

• American Government
• History of the United States I
• History of the United States II
• Human Growth and Development
• Introduction to Educational Psychology
• Introductory Psychology
• Introductory Sociology
• Principles of Macroeconomics
• Principles of Microeconomics
• Social Sciences and History
• Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648
• Western Civilization II: 1648 to Present

4. Science and Mathematics

• Biology
• Calculus
• Chemistry
• College Algebra
• College Mathematics
• Natural Sciences
• Pre-calculus

5. Business

• Financial Accounting
• Managerial Accounting
• Information Systems
• Introductory Business Law
• Principles of Management
• Principles of Marketing

Summary

The CLEP program lets students earn college credit by passing standardized exams, thereby demonstrating knowledge gained through independent study, work experience, or prior coursework. CLEP credits accelerate college degree completion and lower tuition costs. They are beneficial for adult students, military personnel, and transfer students.